If He Had Been with Me

How does Autumn describe the end of her relationship with those in “the clique?” Who does she blame for the dissolution of these relationships? Why is this important to the development of the plot? How will the end of her friendships be cast in a new light later in the novel, and what does this imply about Autumn as a narrator?

How is If He Had Been with Me similar and different from other YA romances? Pick another YA romance and compare and contrast. Consider how each novel is similar and different in terms of themes, tone, point of view, voice, and their conclusions.

Why doesn’t Autumn reveal the full story of why she and Finny are no longer friends until halfway through the novel? How might that knowledge at the novel’s beginning have changed the reader’s understanding of Finny and Autumn’s relationship?